Advice Buying my first Caterham

[Lewboy95]

Hi everyone, Looking for some help and advice on picking my first Caterham, I’ll be going half’s with my dad for some father son weekend bonding. We are looking for a car that can do a lot of weekends on the pothole filled country roads of Scotland but can also take to a track day with the option to add power, and handing upgrades in the years to come. I’ve got a list of 6 so far, would appreciate any advice. And thanks for anyone who takes the time to look at the options I’ve linked below

Caterham options


https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008273... £24,995 black//silver 2015

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008262... £24,995 green/yellow 2014

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10765210?c... £23,000 grey/orange 2019

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10866243 £20.995 yellow/black 2015


https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10683908?c... £20,000 red 2018

https://www.caterhamcars.com/en/in-stock/model?id=... £23,995 black/black 2020

[Lewboy95]

Yea if you want to send me over a few pictures, year etc I’ll definitely have a look

[Lewboy95]

Yea, I did have a look at that one as well but was put off slightly by the age and mileage. I think something newer with less millage and 125-150hp would suit with the option to upgrade as would likely be predominantly road use with the odd track day at first. Could anyone tell me if there’s a massive difference in the comfort levels with the leather seats compared to the bucket seat? And how easily are roll cages removed for day weekend use but added for a track day??

[Lewboy95]

Also are the academy cars the easiest to then upgrade?? Or would it be the one of the other models?

Thanks

[Lewboy95]

Yea wasnt sure about the cage, couldn’t imagine my mum or girlfriend clambering in

[Lewboy95]

Great advice, Good to know about the fia bar. Thanks

[Lewboy95]

BertBert said:

Not in the slightest! A completely vile thing putting a cage in that you don't do lightly!

Again thanks for the info, will need to take the cage into consideration

[Lewboy95]

Murph7355 said:

If you've never had a 7, and want to use it mainly on the road and for OH's to go with you, just dismiss any with a cage!

I had one put on mine and whilst it's amazing for the track, it's totally unnecessary for the road, and much more of an incumbrance.

You can switch between a screen and aeroscreen quite easily to give you a different feel. But tbh even with that I wear a helmet in mine now (no screen)...the times I've had stones pinging off it will mean I'll never do anything other.

If you have normal sized feet, you'll be wearing race boots (/very narrow shoes), you'll probably have/want a removable steering wheel to carry around and a lid...it all just erodes the "get in and drive" bit.

My car started out with screen and weather gear. It was my only car for ages and I drove it everywhere. That's not the case now (in the interests of transparency, mainly for the last 8yrs down to lack of time due to having kids....they're just starting to show a big interest in the cars now so will be getting it back on the road fully next year with a fair wind. But in its current guise it will be unlikely to be used for the supermarket run. May pick them up from school in it though ).

Thanks, maybe I’ll get one with a cage just to stop my mum getting in

[Lewboy95]

ash73 said:

You could get a brand new one of these for the same budget

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-driven/mk-indy...

Bike engine maybe not ideal for cruising around Scotland, but worth a look.

I’ll give that a read thanks

[Lewboy95]

Thanks everyone, a lot of information and advice to help.

[Lewboy95]

ash73 said:

And this must be worth a look:

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10765222

Yea that’s one of the of ones I have saved, thanks

[Lewboy95]

Would recommend hiring one also, we hired One for half a day from a company called 7ecosse In Crieff. Would highly recommend them, they gave us plenty of
Information to help our search for a caterham